Author
Since 2014 up until the first half of 2021, Syrians and stateless persons were eligible to a fast-track procedure examining their cases and often resulting in the granting of refugee status. This applied to those with a former residence in Syria who could provide original documents such as passports, or who had been identified as Syrians/persons with a former residence in Syria within the scope of the Reception and Identification Procedure; provided that the EU-Turkey Statement and the Fast track border procedure did not apply to their cases.
However, the Joint Ministerial Decision 42799/2021 issued in June 2021, pursuant to Article 86 of L. 4636/2019, established that Turkey is to be considered safe for applicants from Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Somalia. As a result, applications lodged by nationals of the above-mentioned countries are now channeled into the admissibility procedure upon arrival, to assess whether Turkey is a safe third country and whether their cases are admissible and should be examined on the merits.
Also, although the fast-track border procedure was initially introduced as an exceptional and temporary procedure, it has become the rule for the applicants residing in Lesvos, Samos, Chios, Leros, and Kos.